Great way to get experience for nursing students!

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Hey all you fellow crazy nursing students!

I am trying to spread the word for a great job opportunity for nursing students. It is a great way to make money, and get VERY good experience.

Because of the de-institutionalizing of MR/DD facilities, many states are in GREAT need for employees in MR/DD community living. Check for companies around you.

I work for a company that offers community living for adults with MR/DD, and a center for children. I am getting so much experience and am learning more than I am in my similiar position at a local hospital.

I work in regular homes in the community that are home to around 4 individuals with 1-2 staff there around the clock when they areb't in workshop. I am not a CNA, but I do so much more. I don't know the exact details, but because of the place in the system, we are trained and certified to legally do many things that CNAs cannot. In addition to the basic care cleaning, feeding, changing, we pass meds, and do g-tube feedings and med administration. Because we have small staff to client ratio, we learn the insides and out of each individual and all of their health concerns. It is such great experience. I absolutely love it. I know that working while in the program is frowned upon, but most people just have to work. Plus there is plenty of study time because once they are in bed you have free time after doing general side work tasks. If anyone is looking for a great way to get experience, I highly recommend this!

I never thought there was so much to MR/DD but I absolutely love it. I have been staff at around 7 houses and each individual is so great, and has so much to offer. I also have a house with very low functioning individuals and I just feel so good because I am helping someone have a better life. You put in a little love and you get so much in return! I have one client who is non verbal and completely immoble, but if I talk to him for about 20 minutes and rub his head, I can get a laugh or two out of him. I just love putting the time in to making these guys (and women!) feel loved!

Lisa

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Specializes in SRNA.
I don't know the exact details, but because of the place in the system, we are trained and certified to legally do many things that CNAs cannot. In addition to the basic care cleaning, feeding, changing, we pass meds, and do g-tube feedings and med administration.

I'm sorry, but can you please elaborate? You aren't licensed in any form, but you routinely administer medication?

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I'm sorry, but can you please elaborate? You aren't licensed in any form, but you routinely administer medication?

I agree. That can't be legal.

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I have a job just like this, it is a really great opportunity for nursing students! I love my job! We had to take a medication class, and you do need to get certified in first aid, cpr, and a few other classes! Iv'e gotten to work with G-tubes, trachs, etc.

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Specializes in Home Health, Case Management, OR.
I agree. That can't be legal.

We administer meds where I work as well. We had to take additional certification beyond our CNA. We cannot do injections or IV medications but we do oral, eye drops, nose sprays and suppository form.

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please dont mess with your registration,you should not be administering medication at all, the reason why you are allowed to do this is that the employer dont want to pay a staff nurse, that is not smart, i dont want u to get in trouble because of error.

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I can't remember exactly, but there is some legal loop-hole for this type of work. We have similar where I live. I have a friend of family who is a judge and says that, yes, it is legal for that particular agency. Who knew?

Also, I wouldn't feel too bad about working during NS. Some places discourage it, but others expect it. One of our local hospitals told all its LPN's that they need to get enrolled in a RN program in the next year to keep their jobs (hospital doing away with LPN). Also, the hospital where I work has several LPN's that are in a RN program. It helped them to get the job by showing that they were continuing education.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

I think this must be because it's a "group home". In that case, the people must be able to give whatever meds are prescribed for the client.

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I think this must be because it's a "group home". In that case, the people must be able to give whatever meds are prescribed for the client.

I bet most group homes do not have licensed nurses on staff. This isn't any different than giving your children prescribed meds. It doesn't sound illegal to me either.

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Yeah, it's kind of a halfway house/special needs clients type of place. When you work there, you actually live with them.

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Specializes in DD, HHC, Med Surg, PCU, Resource.

I just came across this thread and had to chime in too. I work community living here in Indiana and have off and on for the last 9 years. It's a very rewarding job. I'm actually at work right now. I work in 24 hour homes, on the midnight shift. Our girls are very high functioning. So there isn't much to do once they are off to bed. It gives me an incredible amount of time to study. I work 12 hour shifts. We work under an RN on her license. We do have core A & B med training, cpr, first aid. I actually just had a med recert on Wednesday. As far as meds go we chart all prescription and prns there is also lots of other charting and case notes that need to be done daily. All of these go to the RN at the end of the month. We have one nurse that is over 2 24 hr. CL homes, 2 residential, and several other non 24 hour home and also some other homes in another area. There was another house that I worked at that was a residential group home and the consumers were lower functioning, we had to give one fellow his insulin injections.

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I'm sorry, but can you please elaborate? You aren't licensed in any form, but you routinely administer medication?

I'll chime in here. Yes, many places allow the passing of meds for someone who isn't licensed. Most of these places are group homes or similar facilities. The staff undergoes a training and the medication administration is considered "self-administered." As a staff, you don't officially dole out meds. You are in a position where you are supervising the self-administration of meds by residents. It's a loophole of sorts and totally legal.

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